Australia Is Now The First Country To Remove Climate Change Legislation

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July 17, 2014

What does Australia no longer have in common with South Africa, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Finland, the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Costa Rica, and Brazil? As of today, unlike those other countries, we no longer have a Carbon Tax.

The successful repeal makes us the first nation to actually remove any efforts towards combating global Climate Change. It is, one way or the other, going to be a day that will be of enormous historical significance not just in our own history, but in the history of our relationship with the rest of the world.

It’s been a day that’s been met with despair for the future of our planet on one side:

Sad sad day. Greens will never give up the fight for real action on #climatechange and our clean energy future @GreensMPs

— Shane Rattenbury (@ShaneRattenbury) July 17, 2014

Dear children & grandchildren, I am sorry. We did our very best. But we will continue to work & work for your future. #AustralianGreens

— Senator Penny Wright (@PennyWrites) July 17, 2014

Where Australia was once a world leader, Tony Abbott has made us the world’s laughing stock. #climatechange #shame

— Mark Butler MP (@Mark_Butler_MP) July 17, 2014

History will judge Tony Abbott harshly for his denial of global warming and his undermining of Australia’s effort to address it.

— Christine Milne (@senatormilne) July 17, 2014

And championed as a victory for families on the other.

The Carbon Tax is gone. This is great news for Australian families and for our nation’s small businesses. #auspol pic.twitter.com/9gRf64NcnX

— Liberal Party (@LiberalAus) July 17, 2014

Finally the Carbon Tax that punished Aussie families &businesses has been terminated by the Abbott Gov & the Australian people #auspol

— Alex Hawke MP (@AlexHawkeMP) July 17, 2014

The carbon tax has gone! Good news for families, businesses and jobs.

— Alan Tudge (@AlanTudgeMP) July 17, 2014

The difference between the reactions from the two sides seems to be that those opposing the repeal have been at least willing to give a little bit of context behind their anger in explaining why the tax was needed, whereas those championing its harpooning are simply sticking to the “it was bad because it was” line of blind reasoning.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten absolutely did not pull any punches in his condemnation of the repeal.

Whereas on the Liberal side of the fence, Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald lambasted Greens senators, stating “It is the ultimate of hypocrisy for the Greens to say they know better than the Australian public. It’s typical that the Greens think they know better than anyone,” before reminding everyone that whilst he does have an “open mind” towards this whole Climate Change hullaballoo, Brisbane did recently have its coldest day in 113 years, so… y’know… Global WARMING?

This, ladies and gentlemen, is an actual human being who has an actual active role in how our Government is run. The year is 2014, and this is actually happening.

There isn’t a drink stiff enough to adequately deal with this.

Photo: Paul Kane via Getty Images.